Technopark of the Novosibirsk Academgorodok is being constructed

The word “Innovations” is one of the most frequently used words nowadays. It is not infrequent that one hears people say that it is "not about us." 

The word becomes tired, it loses its meaning, more often we hear about the problems of the innovation business, but not about its development. Meanwhile, the construction of Technopark of the Novosibirsk Academgorodok and in general the revival of the Academgorodok can become a real tool in solving problems concerning the commercialization of scientific developments, creation of a competitive economy and promotion of region development.

Ideologists of innovation economy underlined the fact that Technopark is not manufacturing buildings and laboratories, offices, and it's not even housing, but a territory where an inventor, a businessman and financier can meet together with the perspective of business start. That is creation of the innovative environment which would develop on the basis of this particular Technopark is primary. People who may not even be Technopark residents, but who want to visit this Technopark, they all have chances to meet together. What is the phenomenon of "Silicon Valley"? It is in the existence of such places. By the way, the Novosibirsk Academgorodok was created long before the "Silicon Valley".

Gennady Sapozhnikov, one of the main ideologists of the Novosibirsk Technopark area, insists that the main objective is to strengthen technopark ideology in the minds of people. "You can not build innovation-based economy without a literate society, and Novosibirsk has every chance" - he said.

Nevertheless, there must be an infrastructure and it should be developed and modern. It is for this purpose that the state program of Technoparks creation has been developed.

It will be recalled that a state Technopark creation program in Russia in the sphere of high technology was adopted in March 2006. Technoparks in the Novosibirsk, the Moscow, the Nizhny Novgorod, the Kaluga, the Tyumen and the Kemerovo Regions as well as in the Republic of Mordovia, Tatarstan and the city of St. Petersburg are now being constructed under this program.

However, in the Novosibirsk Region the project of Technopark area creation was initiated much earlier. In March, 2005 the plan of measures on creation of Technopark in the territory of the Novosibirsk Region has already been approved by the Administration of the Novosibirsk Region, Novosibirsk Mayor’s Office and the RAS Siberian branch .

Just one small thing is lacking.

The construction of Technopark on the basis of the Academgorodok is an opportunity to build anew engineering infrastructure and thus breathe new life into the Academgorodok. Limits of the operation of today's engineering infrastructure facilities, built 50 years ago in the Academgorodok are exceeded. Therefore, it is important to maintain opportunities for the development of science, hi-tech companies, Novosibirsk State University, all people of the Academgorodok and the unique environment in general. 

The Academgorodok is a prototype of Technopark; therefore the scientific and technological park is being created in the integration with research institutes of the SB of RAS and universities. Experience and practices of existing innovative companies are used.

Technopark is the main regional project on high-tech industry support. It is planned to develop four main spheres: biomedicine and biotechnology, information technologies, power electronics, instrument making.

Today there are more than 300 innovative companies with annual revenue of 11 billion rubles and the export volume of 1.8 billion rubles in the Novosibirsk Academgorodok. About 7 thousand people work there. The most developed industries include instrument making, information technology, biomedicine and biotechnology, new materials. To defend their interests, some innovative companies have been united in 2 associations. "SibAcademInnovation includes companies of the Academgorodok, implementing projects in the instrument cluster, biotechnology and laser technology, with annual sales of more than 6 billion rubles. (the data of 2008). "SibAcademSoft" consists of 18 small and medium-sized companies, they are software developers, with annual sales of more than 1,5 billion rubles. (the data of 2008).

There are innovation development centers and business incubators as well as private technoparks in the territory of the Novosibirsk Region. As an example of private technopark structure there is a modern office and production building of the company "Alekta”. The company was established in 1992, it successfully developed, implemented and accompanied software in the field of accounting, tax and financial accounting for the large industrial enterprises and associations. In 2007 the company built a building with area of 8 thousand square meters near the computation center , in Lavrentiev Avenue. This building is used not only for their own needs, areas for scientific and technical companies are rented there.

But for all that there are no specialized offices, laboratories and production areas for development of existing companies and for placing of the newly formed innovative companies in the Academgorodok.

And, perhaps, the MAIN THING: there is no modern technological infrastructure (development and production capacities). Particularly acute this problem is felt by the companies that implement projects in the instrument cluster, biomedicine and biotechnology, new materials cluster.

And also there is no affordable housing for researchers, young professionals and employees of innovative companies, which significantly limits the ability of companies to skilled labour retention and leads to an flow-out of specialists in the branches of foreign companies and abroad.

Money

During the implementation of Technopark the project underwent many changes, sometimes affecting its parameters drastically. Initially, in 2006, at the time of signing the investment contract with the initiators of the project and strategic investor, it was assumed that the total amount of investments would be more than 21 billion rubles., of which about 18 billion was planned to attract as private investment.

Authorities understood that the first thing they should do was preparation of the engineering infrastructure, on the basis of which private investors had to build an office and laboratory buildings, production units, cultural and business complex, residential buildings, kindergartens, etc.

Accordingly, in the first years the budgetary funds were directed exclusively to the construction of engineering infrastructure and communications for the buildings of Technopark: heating systems, pump stations, power lines, sewerage, water pipe etc. have been constructed.

For 2007-2010 it is prescribed more than 3 billion rubles in the budgets of all levels for construction of engineering, office, laboratory and manufacturing infrastructure of Technopark. (see table "State investments").

In the first years of the project "Technopark" implementation (2006-2008) the Moscow company RosEuroDevelopment became a strategic investor. It is committed to build office and laboratory buildings, laboratory and production units, cultural and business complex, residential buildings, social infrastructure facilities. The first stage (office and laboratory and manufacturing modules, as well as a business center) in area of 160 thousand square meters had to be commissioned by 2010, the remaining facilities in area of 500 thousand square meters by 2015.

In 2007-2008, implementation of joint plans with RosEuroDevelopment faced several problems, including the issue of land acquisition, for this reason the strategic investor left the project.

In view of absence of an investor the Novosibirsk Region authorities have decided to continue building of Technopark only at the expense of budgetary funds.

Nevertheless, the issue of attracting private investment in the project remains relevant. Built at the expense of budgetary funds facilities will be owned by the state, but they may be given to the management of Technopark. All income from the exploitation of real estate the JSC Technopark of the Novosibirsk Academgorodok " will reinvest in the Technopark project (business incubators financing, venture funding of companies-residents, the purchase of equipment for the centers of collective use, etc.)

When discussing co-investors the question of inclusion of innovative associations "SibAcademInnovation" and "SibAcademSoft" in the program of Technopark building was considered. Associations offered the variant of the construction of buildings for innovative companies in the area, located in Injenernaya street. The list of innovative companies that wish to participate in the project as co-investors was formed at the end of the previous year. To simplify the implementation of the project the legal entity LLC "Novij Dom", representing the interests of all the companies that had declared their participation in the project was created.

The first objects

Technological Support Center will be opened in Engineering Street in December, 2009. Here it is supposed to create productions for manufacturing of small batches of new devices and products of innovative business. It should help to reduce costs of the innovative companies. Before starting a batch production, it is necessary to make a detail or a thing in one copy or a small batch. Such orders are not interesting to large Novosibirsk factories, they are very expensive to a customer. Some companies order details in Holland that is cheaper, than ordering at the Novosibirsk enterprises.

There are foundation ditches of 5 more buildings near to the first facility. These are projects which are implemented by the LLC «Novij Dom». There will be office and laboratory complex and industrial premises in the total area of 13 100 sq. m. on the one plot of land with the first building of Technopark.

About two months ago a treaty regulating the volume, timing of construction and financing of the Center of Nano-structured Materials was signed - construction of the building is funded from the regional budget. To equip the Center of Nano-structured Materials it is planned to attract funds of State Corporation “Rosnanotech”.

Residents of Technopark

According to Sapozhnikov, Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region, the head of department of science, innovation, information and communication of the Novosibirsk Region, there will be no problems with the presence of residents in Technopark of the Novosibirsk Academgorodok. Negotiations with more than thirty organizations, including CJSC “Katakon ", CJSC" Institute of chromatography "EcoNova", LLC "Uniscan", "META", CJSC "Septeh", LLC "Bureau of technical solutions", LLC "Gars”, LLC “Polus -ST ", are under way to obtain the resident status of Technopark as well as agreements of intent were signed.

According to Sapozhnikov, resident policy has been well-thought-out for the moment. Tax relief for the regional and local taxes, a special administrative one stop principle, interest rates on bank loans subsiding , etc. have been envisaged.

As a result of the implementation of Technopark of the Novosibirsk Academgorodok 13 000 workplaces will be created, more than 200 innovative companies-residents will be placed. Annual revenue of the companies is more than 20 billion rubles.

Thus, the advent of Technopark will solve one of the main problems - the connection of scientific achievements with production and search for this purpose interested investors.

Administration structure of the Managing Company:

Collegial executive body – the Supervisory Board. It provides overall direction of the Technopark Managing Company activities, except for matters within the competence of the General Meeting of Shareholders.

Individual executive body - the General Director. He carries out management of the current performance of the Technopark Managing Company.


Author: Ludmila Pavlova

Source: Epigraph